This was so twisty and fun, I could not put it down. Nothing is as it seems, so just keep turning that page and making your hypotheses!

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Business Trip" by Jessie Garcia is an enjoyable contemporary romance that blends workplace dynamics with the charm of an unexpected romantic connection. Set against the backdrop of a high-stakes business trip, the novel offers a light and entertaining read for fans of the genre.

Garcia's characters are relatable and well-drawn, with the protagonist's journey from professional ambition to personal fulfillment taking center stage. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and their interactions are filled with witty banter and moments of genuine connection. The business trip setting provides a fresh twist, adding an element of adventure to the romantic plot.

However, the novel leans heavily on familiar tropes and plot devices, making certain developments predictable for seasoned romance readers. While the story is engaging, it sometimes lacks the depth and originality that would elevate it to a higher level. Some secondary characters feel underdeveloped, serving more as plot devices than fully fleshed-out individuals.

Garcia's writing style is straightforward and easy to read, with a good balance of dialogue and narrative that keeps the pacing brisk. The depiction of corporate culture and the pressures of professional life adds an interesting layer to the story, though at times it can feel overly idealized.

Overall, "The Business Trip" is a pleasant and entertaining read that delivers on its promise of romance and light-hearted fun. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it provides a satisfying escape for those looking to unwind with a charming and predictable love story.

This book has more twists than a jumbo soft serve. I have read my fair share of thrillers but this one was done really well and I kept thinking about it even when I wasn't reading. I love stolen identity/strangers on a train tropes so this one was right up my alley. The only part I didn't love were the chapters written from Trent's POV. I think the author could have probably skipped them almost entirely or cut them down because I think she does a great job of portraying Trent's personality via the other characters. Very well done thriller/mystery that will have many readers awake all night to finish!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Expected Pub Date: Jan 14 2025

Thank you so much for this ARC!

Wow, I was hooked from the first page and could not put this down! Jasmine is in a relationship with a loser and decides to flee while Stephanie is a news anchor heading out on a business trip. The two end up sitting next to each other on the plane and then the rest is bananas. No spoilers! Told in multiple POV's you will certainly be questioning reality and the reliability of each narrator. An interesting web that kept me up all night. Short chapters, fun characters and a thrilling mystery. 5 stars.

"Wow, The Business Trip was nonstop twists and turns. I loved the unusual way that the story was told, and I kept reading all day long because I couldn't wait to see how it ended!" -- Freida McFadden, New York Times bestselling author.

When Freida McFadden reads something and says there are nonstop twist and turns, I instantly read it!

Action starts from page 1 and it's such a fast paced thriller! Think popcorn thriller. It's multiple POVs and you just have to trust the process that all the loose ends will be tied up by the end.

This is not a simple business trip. It will lead to treachery and death and will be life changing for Stephanie and Jasmine. They meet on a flight to Denver. Jasmine is fleeing her abusive husband and Stephanie is on her way to a news conference in San Diego. Their paths cross briefly and Stephanie goes on to her conference. Or does she? Her friends grow suspicious when Stephanie, a known workaholic, texts them to let them know she has met a man and is spending at least a week with him at his home in Atlanta. Then Jasmine texts the identical message to a friend. She’s going to Atlanta with the same man. What’s going on?

You won’t know until the final pages of this well written, multilayered, fast paced debut thriller. The Business Trip, narrated by Stephanie and Jasmine, changes with every chapter. And the conclusion is totally unexpected and shocking. It is hard to believe that this is Jessie Garcia’s debut! I can’t wait to see what she does next! Kudos to you, Jessie! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Jessie Garcia for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author and publisher for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4 Stars

This was super enjoyable! I really had fun reading it and it was super easy to get through quickly. I loved the character development - definitely one of my favorite parts of the story.

Many thanks for the complimentary ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and the author/publisher.

A 2024 Favorite for me!

If you’re looking for a great beach read this is it. I loved the structure of how the story is told and unfolds, and the character development is well-constructed and introduced. You really get to know their mindset. Stephanie’s cat-sitting neighbor Robert is a delight!

The tense and riveting story moves at a good pace, and it all comes together for a satisfying conclusion.

I loved this book when I started reading it. Jasmine just seemed like an amazingly strong person. But as the book went on, I had a lot of trouble caring about her because once we saw what she was capable of, there just wasn't anything likeable about her. Yes, she had a bad childhood, but she seemed very matter-of-fact about it, like it didn't emotionally affect her at all. Nor did what happened in high school with Allison at the party. It just made her feel entitled to take whatever she wanted from whoever she wanted. I waited the whole book to find out WHY her mother didn't like her, as well as to find out if Glenn would change after what happened to him. And when you think about it, if Jasmine had a friend like Raven - and both she AND Anna knew what Raven was capable of doing, why wouldn't Jasmine just have gone to her in the beginning instead of running away and sending her life into a downward spiral? Raven could have had Glenn beaten up or worse while Jasmine was at work and wouldn't be a suspect. I liked the twists and turns and I was happy that Stephanie was actually still alive, but it just left me feeling empty - like there should have been MORE.

P.S. I review books on Amazon, but can't do that until it is published. I have already added a calendar entry to remind me to review it on January 14th. I am barbarawr

Classic HBOMF
Talk about a wonderful psycho-drama! Things start out pretty good. The reader is really pulling for the woman trying to escape her abusive boyfriend. Then it starts to get odd. And, a bit weird. Then, the story the story trips over itself, and the reader starts to drown in a sea of 'What is Going On?'. The story just continues to twist until the end. And then it gets truly psycho. I love this story. I am going to recommend it to several friends who thrive on these psycho-thrillers!

This was really great. Twisted, full of suspense and tension, and I was totally captivated, needing to know what came next. When the story hit the 75 percent mark, however, things got weird. I felt like I was reading a different story and I just couldn't follow along.

What happens when two women from two very different walks of life cross paths on a trip? Well, in this case, a roller coaster ride of suspense. I can’t say too much because you definitely don’t want spoilers for this one. I loved the tension-building short chapters. The alternating points of view from so many different characters really make for a fun read getting to see it all play out in different ways.

Read this if you want a fast-paced quick read with twists and turns galore. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a quick read. Stephanie and Jasmine end up sitting next to each other on a flight to Denver. Jazz is escaping her abusive boyfriend and Stephanie is having a quick layover before she changes planes to a conference in San Diego. On the plane, Jazz decides that she wants to be Stephanie so she heads to San Diego too. What follows is believable. The hair dye, the clothes, the stolen id. How easy is it to become someone else? Wouldn’t we all like to do it at some point in our life? The book comes out in the winter and if you are going on a beach vacation, be sure to pack this. Thank me later

The Business Trip starts out great and I could hardly put it down. But once the 4th part started it became a little too far fetched for me. While I really enjoyed the beginning of this book the ending fell flat for me.

A strong thriller debut! I really enjoyed this one. Fast-paced, twisty, kept me on the edge of my seat. I would argue best gone into blind.

My biggest gripe is that I'm a table of contents girl meaning I like to look at it and refer back to it sometimes to see what's coming/where I'm at and by doing so in this book, I was essentially spoiled on certain aspects of the story as I could see whose POVs were coming up (and therefore knew they weren't actually dead). I wish the table of contents didn't include the characters names!!

I really like the cover. I think this will be a buzzy hit!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an eARC!

Absolutely loved this book! I loved the narrative device and the twists and turns. I don't think I have ever read anything quite like it. I thought I had it figured out, but with each section I was proved wrong.

A woman escaping an abusive boyfriend meets a business woman on a plane. Told from several points of view, this thriller twists and turns until the end!

The Business Trip is a mystery told in multi-narratives. I found the shift from character to character a bit frustrating and it kept the characters from being fully developed. I figured out several of the twists before they came but when I didn't they were awesome.

The premise of the story is that an economically and abused woman steals another woman's identity, killing her in the process. The ball rolls from their as the woman has to keep many balls in the air as she seeks to sustain the masquerade.

I enjoyed the latter part of the book thoroughly, as it offered the chance to hear from the characters I wanted to hear from. It builds nicely to the crescendo ending. Although the ending was foreseeable, it was still quite satisfying.

This started out so well and I thought this may be a mystery/thriller that breaks new ground. However, the novel took a turn into complete unbelievability and I was not able to suspend my disbelief.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211003858

The Business Trip
By: Jessie Garcia
This novel kept my interest the entire night as the drama unfolded. I can see this as a movie. I cannot believe this is a debut novel.

So many twists as we delve into this non-stop action novel. MIND GAMES, DECEPTION, MURDER and more.

A business trip gone horribly wrong. One woman attending a conference and one woman leaving her past behind. A man who is self-absorbed and now arrested for the disappearance of both women. They have both vanished and a series of text led the police to his door. What is his connection to these women?

I cannot wait to read what Garcia writes next. The way this novel played out was MIND BLOWING!